About Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace, also called Amba Vilas Palace, is the royal palace of the Wadiyar kings in the centre of Mysuru. It stands on Sayyaji Rao Road in the Chamrajpura and Agrahara area, inside the old fort walls. It is one of the most visited monuments in India, with about four million visitors a year. People come to see its grand halls, carved doors and paintings, the palace lit up at night, and the famous Mysuru Dasara festival.

History

The Wadiyar family ruled Mysore for several centuries. Their older palace here was made mostly of wood. In February 1897 a fire destroyed a large part of it during a royal wedding. The regent, Queen Kempananjammanni Devi, then ordered a new palace for her young son, Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. The British architect Henry Irwin designed it, and the work went on from 1897 to 1912. The palace is built in the Indo-Saracenic style, which mixes Hindu, Mughal, Rajput and Gothic features.

What to see and do

• See the Kalyana Mantapa (marriage hall), with its coloured glass ceiling and wall paintings of the old Dasara procession.
• Walk through the large public Durbar Hall, with rows of carved pillars and a view towards Chamundi Hills.
• Look at the Amba Vilas, the private hall of the king, with its richly carved and inlaid doors.
• See the Gombe Thotti (doll pavilion) and the golden howdah, the seat carried by the elephant during Dasara.
• Visit the small temples inside the fort, such as the Shweta Varahaswamy and Lakshmiramana temples.
• Watch the palace glow with nearly one lakh bulbs in the evening. This happens on Sundays, public holidays and every night of Dasara.
• Stay for the evening sound and light show, which has its own ticket.

Best time to visit

October to February is the most pleasant season. Dasara, in September or October, is the grandest time, with lights every night and the elephant procession on Vijayadashami, but the city is very crowded then. For the lights on a normal week, come on a Sunday evening. Weekday mornings are the least crowded time to see the inside.

How to reach

The palace is in the heart of the city. The city bus stand is right next to the palace. Mysuru Junction railway station is about 2 km away, and the suburban (KSRTC) bus stand is about 1.5 km away. Autos, taxis and city buses reach it easily. Visitors usually enter through the Varaha Gate on the south side.

Tips for visitors

• Leave your footwear at the counter before entering the palace building.
• Photography is not allowed inside the palace building, but you can take photos in the grounds.
• Audio guides are available in several languages.
• Plan two to three hours for the palace and the grounds.
• Check the timings and entry fee shown on this page before you go.

Mysore Palace is the top sight on our Mysore tourist places page. Nearby, you can also visit Jaganmohan Palace and the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill. To cover the city in one day, see our One Day Mysore City Tour, and for the lights, our Mysuru Sight Seeing by Ambaari Double Decker Bus - Dasara Illumination.